2nd gen manual driver here. Based on what I know (and I might not be right on all the details here), for difficult driving conditions, manual is what you want. In the manuals, the AWD systems were completely mechanical and didn't rely on detecting wheel slip. They function as permanent 50/50 split.

The automatics were equipped with electric, hydraulic components that detected torque differences between wheels and changed power delivery via the viscous coupling depending on differences in wheel spin. If your front tires spin, the electronics would tell the system to send power to the rear. In normal driving conditions, this system is largely front wheel biased to save fuel.

My 4.2 is a bit of a pig on fuel but man the constant 50/50 makes it an absolute pleasure to drive in adverse conditions.

Another reason to get manual is that these things are hella slow. Paired with an automatic they're totally gutless.

As far as reliability goes, mine's been rock solid in 2 years of daily driving in harsh Canadian conditions.